Acetylene-generator.



R. D. BRADENL ACETYLENE GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1.19m.

Patented June 25, 1918.

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ROBERT D. BRADEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO OXWELD ACETYLENE COM- IPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 035 'W EST VIRGINIA.

ACETYLENE-GENERATOR.

Application filed February 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. BRADEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improven'ients in Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of machines for generating acetylene gas, and has reference more particularly to a novel mechanism for releasing a reserve charge of carbid after the main body of the carbid. in the hopper or holder has been used up and the supply of cal-bid in the machine exhausted except for the reserve charge, in order that the machine may not be kept out Of operation any longer than is necessary to effect the recharging of the carbid hopper or holder. The invention is chiefly useful when employed in association with a signal device for automatically notifying the attendant of the machine when the carbid hopper requires recharging; and a practical form of visual signal device that is thrown to indicating position simultaneously with the emptying of the reserve charge holder is shown and described herein.

The general object of the invention is to increase the efficiency and serviceability of acetylene generators by obviating the necessity of guess-work on the part of the attendant as to when the machine needs recharging, avoiding unnecessary delays in effecting the recharging, and reducing the time period during which the machine is idle while undergoing rechargin One practlcal means where loy the purposes and objects of the invention may be carried out is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of a generator equipped with my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper portion of the generator taken in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation as viewed on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fi 6 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section through the reserve chargcholder showing the latter in released or delivery position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1918.

Serial No. 76,563.

I have herein shown my present improvements as applied to a type of generator commonly known as an outdoor generator, the base and walls of which are insulated to protect the machine from the effects of freezmg weather, but it will be understood that the improvements may be applied to any other type of generator that employs a movable member that is subject to varlations in the gas pressure within the generator. Briefly describing the principal parts of the generator, 10 designates the outer casing, the same including a removable lid or cover 11; 12 designates the generation chamber; 13 the carbid hopper supported by and maintained within a stationary cylindrical member 1 1 which, in cooperation with the inner wall of the casing 10, forms an annular sealing chamber 15 within which operates the lower end of a vertically movable gas hell 16. The threat of the hopper 13 is controlled by a valve 17, the stem 17 of which extends upwardly through the top wall of the hopper and is normally urged upwardly by a light coil spring 17". 18 designates an abutment screw mounted on the top of the bell 16 that, on the descent of the latter, contacts with the upper end of the valve stem and opens the valve to admit a fresh charge of calbid from the hopper into the generation chamber. 19 designates a tube which conducts the gas from the generation chamber 12 into the gas bell 16, and 20 designates a filter on the upper end of a gas delivery pipe 21.

Referring now more particularly to the signal mechanism, 22 designates a shaft journaled in the side wall of the casing 10 near its upper end, on the outer end of which shaft is a semaphore 23 that is shiftable between the horizontal and vertical positions illustrated by dotted and full lines respectively in Fig. 4, its movements being preferably limited by step pins 24: and 25. On the inner face of the semaphore 23 is a spring catch 26 that, when the semaphore arm. is swung to vertical position, automatically engages and locks with a pin or stud 27 in the casing wall 10. On the inner end of the shaft 22 is a short arm 28 that is connected by a chain or cord 29 with the top of the gas bell 16. This chain 29 is of such length that the rise and fall of the hell in its normal working do not actuate the shaft 22. When, however. the cnrbid in the hopper is exhausted, the gas pressure Within the bell 16 drops to such an extent that the bell falls to an abnormally low position and thereby, through the chain 29, arm 28 and shaft 22, throws the semaphore arm 23 from horizontal to vertical position, this latter position of the semaphore arm indicating to the attendant an empty condition of the carbid hopper. Y t V N In order to prevent the machine from lying idle any longer than is necessary to eiiect recharging of the hopper (which might occur where the signal was not observed by the attendant until some time ater it had been actuated to a position indicating the necessity of recharging), I provide a; reserve chargeholder, and means for releasing the reserve charge that is also ac uated thebell, or equivalent device, on the same, abnormal descending movement thereoiiithat actuates the signal device, so after the main body of the carbid has been ezghausted and this condition made kn wnto the attendant by the indicator, the

generation chamber may besupplied with another charge of carbid suflicient to maintain the gaspressure and keep the lights orning until the attendant has noted the condition of the machine and is ready to recharge the same, This. reserve charge holder and its actuating mechanism as herein illustrated comprises the following parts: 3Q designates a horizontal shaft that isjournaled in the tapered wall of thehopper 18 and extends across one side of the latter, and 31 is a plate fast on said shaft. The major portion of the plate overhangs the shaft" toward the center of the hopper, while its rear or outer portion is counterweighted asshown at 32 so as to normally maintain the plate when; empty in a horiz'ontal position. Fast on the. shaft 30 atone side ofv the plate is a disk 33 (Fig. 6) provided onrits periphery with a radial shouldersfd i ,withv which latter cooperates a pivoted paw etha maint t p a e 31, when loaded withqearbid, in vraisedor horizontal; position, To the outer end of the pawlfi5=is connected by a pin and slot joint 3.5 a rod 37.- that extends upwardly through 1 the.top;wa'll of thehopper and isadapted to be engaged at its upper end and depressed by the top wall of the bell. when the latter descends to; a position wherein it actuates the-signal device; lhe rod 37 isnormally maintained in elevated position and the pawl 35 in engagement with the shoulder 34 of the disk 33 a coil spring 38 embracing thepivot shaft 39 of the pawl 35 and connected at; one,,end'to said shaft and at its other end to; the pawl (Fig. 8);

When the carbid hopper is freshly olia'rgeda portion of the carbid is deposited oni-the'pla-te' 31'; and as the carbid is grad- Halli? .c s r'riec1v andidescend thr gh he happen a reserve charge remains on. the

generation of gas for a eonsiderable pend,

after the indicator has been operated. As soon as the reserve charge 0t cerbid has passed ofi the hol de'riil, the latter swings back to normal horizontal position under the influence of the counterweight 32 and the pawl 35, at once locks the Same ihsiijCh position and elevatesthe rod 37 under the influence of spring 38 as soon as the gas pressure has again raised thebell 1'6]. the expression abnormal downward movement as used herein, is intended a downward movement in encess of that occurring duringthe normal operation of the machme and such as is sufiicient to actuate the indicator device.

tion in connection with the illustration will make clear. tothose skilled in the art the structural features, mode of operation, and an a s Of y Pr sen in!en io s an hence, I do not limit invention to the particular embodiment herein S ow anddesoribed but reserve to myself all such variations and modifications as fairly fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims. I

Iclaim;v v v 1. The combination with an acetylene generatorhaving a gas bell, of, a, pivoted holder m n ed he r dhbri r of h g n tor and adapted to retain a reserve portion of the carbid', charged intothe hopper after the main body of the earbid has been fed to the generation chamber, a shoulderedv disk rigid with. said holder, a pawl; normally engaging the shoulder of-said lisktotheiebv lock said holder in carbidweceiving position, and means actuated by the gasbelll nder an abnormal downward movement thereof tor dislodging said pawl from the shoulder of said disk, whereby to permit said-holder to tilt to dumping'positioit p I 2. The combination with anacetylene generator having a gas bell, of a pivoted holder mounted in the carbid hopper of the genera: tor and adapted to retain areserve portion of the carbid charged intothe hopper-after the main body of the carbid hasbeen fed to the generation chamber, a peripherally shou dered isk rigid ,witnsaia;.1w1 i@rg a detent pawl riding on the periphery said It is b'lieved that the foregoing d es/crib disk and normally en{. a; 2;in54 the shoulder thereof to thereby lock said holder in carbidreceiving position, a spring norn'ially pressing said pawl on the periphery of said disk, and means actuated by the gas bell under an abnormal downward movement thereof for dislodging said pawl from the shoulder of said disk, whereby to permit said holder to tilt to dumping position.

3. The combination with an acetylene generator having a gas bell, of a pivoted holder mounted in the carbid hopper of the generator and adapted to retain a reserve portion of the carbid charged into the hopper after the main body of the carbid has been Fed to the generation chamber, a peripherally shouldered disk rigid with said holder, a detent pawl pivoted intermediate its ends and having its nose normally engaging the shoulder of said disk to thereby lock said holder in carbid-reeeiving position, a push rod connected to the heel of said pawl and adapted to be depressed by the gas bell to retract said pawl from looking engagement with said disk, and a spring urging said push-rod upwardly and said pawl into engagement with the 1periphery of said disk. OBT. D. BRADEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. 0. 

